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George's World Travels
So now we are in Darwin, but we have just come from Ayers Rock. And in my humble opinion it was a bit disappointing. Not the rock itself, that was an awesome sight, but the resort that surrounds it (which might i add is the only place to stay in hundreds of miles). The whole resort and all the hotels and shops on it are owned by one company so as you can imagine the prices are extortionate. I doubt very little of it goes back into the aboriginals as well, just so much about Ayers rock seems wrong. Before me and George went to the rock we were given the chance to climb the rock but were told that, although the aboriginals give us the chance to climb Uluru, they would prefer it if we didnt, for many legitimate reasons. Me and G decided not to out of respect for the culture, but so many people did and that really bothered me how so many of us demand respect for our own cultures, yet arent prepared to give it to such a sacred place.
The overnight tour we went on was ok, but the people on it were very strange in a way that i cant really explain!! I know G didnt really know what to say to people, a very different atmosphere to that of the New Zealand trip. I think the age made a big difference as did the language barrier. A lot of people on the trip couldnt speak English that well, and were a lot older than me and George. It was still enjoyable though, we did a great walk around the Olgas. Its amazing how everything can be such a beautiful orange colour, ive never seen a colour like it actually.
Dont get me wrong, im glad we came to Ayers Rock, and I know G is as well. I guess we should have assumed that it would be 'touristy', it is the fifth most visited place in the World. its just its hard to enjoy it when you see what its done to the aboriginal culture that surrounds it (a lot of aboriginals havent adapted to this 'new' way of life at all, and have developed bad drinking problems among other things).
Probably the best thing we did was dot painting. Georges one was actually ok, but mine looked like i had just tipped paint all over it!! It was probably the best insight we got into aboriginal culture during our time there at the rock.
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